Door or drawer latch



April 6, 1948. F. J. RUSSELL 2,439,057

Doon 0R DRAWER LATCH Filed Jan. 21, 14947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Arrow/5v5.

April 6, 1948. F. J. RUSSELL Doon on DRAWER LATCH Filed Jan. 21, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. HQ60 J .Qc/xfa..

.34 /l M l uw@ MM? 4M Arma/5v5.

Patented Apr. 6, `1948 :ani-loom` Doonon DRAWER ladron Fred J. Russell, Beverly Hills, Calif.,r assignor to.

Weiser Compa-nn South. Gata. Galii.,. a. corpo.-

ration ot California Application January 21, 194i-, Serialg;No. 723,314`

1,0 Claims. (Cl. 292,45),

1( This invention relatesto latch-.or catch-,devices for latchmg doors and is. adapted for all; tunes of doors, suon as house doors, Panel doors;` cabi net doors, windows. tran-soins and tlie'liiee,l either f hinged. 0,1. Sliding` hand type,L andl is also appli;h cable to drawers for desks dressers and the like.

An object of the invention is to` provide asi-m:- ple, practical and eficient latching device`v for door-s; drawers, windows, and` other hinged; or sliding; structural e1,ementsA Asn-other elo-lect of the inventionisto: prlovide an improved and; sin-inlined latch-line. device adapted to so: function to preventA rattling. of the door or other, structure, which; it. is mounted.y

A further object of, the; iin/entionA is; to pmi/ide in. e latchine device z -iowelE structural.- featuiesincorporating sieri-ngsea-.tedv latch: elements; whereby the latch may be retained in engagement with the. recess.y or anerture, ci the strikerplat-e.

A further object ofthe invention is tri-provide ef latch assembly doors,` windows; andj the` like which includes a bail: or roller element springseated in ya plunger, which plungerV is sepana-tely spring-seated int-he, assembly.

Another object of` the invention is to Provide a door latchde-vice as; in the previous; obieots wherein there is a differential spring; mounting of the ball or .roller element; and thev plunger having signicant advantages over previously known structures.

Another objectl of the invention is tour-avide an improved latehdevice wherein; the, structure will have a long life and in which `there.are1jr-o parte which will get ont of adiustment or out of order. t

Another obiect of. the invention is to provide improved and` novel features in a mounting; plate and retaining shell or a latch device which. results in a reduced cost thereof andV assembly of the .parts is expedited. Y

An additional object is. tolprovide; a, latch device which can be mountedeither in a, door structure or in a lamb of the door` frame and the striker spiate can be mounted on the` opposite member.

An important object of the invention is the provision of self acl-limiting features in a latch of the general character disclosed, wherein a iactory, pre-set tension of the spring elements is adequate. for correct functioning of the latch under Varying conditions of installation, without the necessity ofadjustment, the self adjusting features comprising a plunger, aspring between the plunger and, the-ball or other-latcheontact- 2 ing element,V anda second spring onv the opposite side-of theplungler, whereby initial external pres.- sure` on the ball is. absorbed. by. they rst spring to theliinit of travel represented by the normal spacing betweenl balli and plunger,- and continued pressural shitting of the ball is transmitted by ine-plunger against. and yieldably resisted. by the l second slorins.`

Other objects and advantages will appear and be brought out mor-@fully in the iollowing. speci,- lcation conside-red withv reference to the aecompan-ying drawings, throughout which lilfzel parts are; designated! by likenumerals-` ln the draw-ings:

Figure lisfavertica-l section view taken through a door and jambsho-wing the invention Figure 2 is a plan section taken; along theV line 2%2 Oft Figure 1 Fig-lirel 3.y is a View similar to Figure 2` showing the latch meehanisinin fully extended position.

Figure, itis an eildview as. seen and indicated by thearrow and numeral d of Figure 3-` Figure 5 is` a similar view as seen from. the

arrow 5 of Fig-ure 3,*

Figure- 6 is, an. enlarged sectional view taken alongy the lineti-TB, of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is aperspective View showingamountingplate and tubular member of the latch device of- Fi-guires- 1` to, 6.k

Figur-e8 is a View similar to Figure 7 showing a modified form of mounting, plate and retaining shell.

Figure Qfis a perspective View, partly broken ewa-v, snowingnlrt-ner mod-ined forms, circonstine; plata shell and retaining member.

Fig-ure 10 is.l a loerenective.` view showing a Inediiiedforni ofv striker plate..

Figure 1-1v is a iragmentarv View illustrating the Contact, element and retaining member in, several positions` during: ino-vement in engagement with the striker plate;

Figure 1211s a side-view, partly-n,sectiomshowing a, modified tormoff retaining member;

Figure 1'3 isa side View, partly-ln section, showing another modified form of retaining. member.

Figure 1-4 is a perspective View. showing amodilied form of my invention incorporating a, roller 3 gravity actuated contact and retaining member elements.

Referring more particularly to the drawing I show a mounting plate I adapted to be secured as by screws II to the edge of a door or jamb and having a central opening I2. Plate I9 is formed with a pair of arcuately shaped cutouts I3 disposed on opposite sides of opening I2. A retaining shell which may comprise a tubular housing I4 is formed with a pair of arcuately formed end portions I5 which extend through cutouts I3, plate Iii having a pair of arcuate abutment portions IS for the end portions I5afl between por- 4 ner which is effectively similar to the structure of Figures 1 to '1.

In Figure 9 I show another modied form of retaining shell and mounting plate. In this gure the mounting plate 4I is formed with a circular opening 42, a tubular member or retaining shell 43 being formed with alternate pairs of end portions 44 and 45, portions 45 being bent outwardly to form abutting anges at the rear side of plate 4|, end portions 44 being extended through aperture 42 in assembly and bent or pressed outwardly against the outer face of plate 4I, forming holding flanges. The tubular retaining shell 43 is thus tions I5. The two pairs of end portions I5 and f I5a form firm securing means for housing I4 on plate Ii) in alignment with aperture I2, portions I5 being pressed outwardly after positioning through cutouts I3.

Housing I4 has a plurality of inwardly turned end flange portions I1 which form a seat for a coil compression spring I8. A tubular plunger 2U is slidably disposed in housing I4 and seats against spring I3 and has an end extension 2l which extends partially into the reduced end portion of the coils of spring I8. Plunger 2li has an end portion 22 of a diameter to permit movement through opening I2 of plate I9, the plunger being shaped with an annular abutment 23 engageable with portions I6 of plate IIJ to limit the outward movement of the plunger, the plunger having a rim portion 24 which is coined inwardly to provide a seat stop for a ball member 25 which is movable within the bore of the plunger. A coiled spring 26 is disposed within the bore of plunger 29 and is of a reduced spiral formation, the reduced end bearing against ball 25 to urge the ball in extended position in engagement with rim 24, as shown in Figure 3. Plunger 20 is provided with a stop abutment 21 against which ball 25 may seat, upon retracted movement during operation, such that upon further retractive movement of the ball member 25, plunger 29 will be moved inwardly within housing I4 against the action of spring I8, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figures 1 Iand 2 show a striker plate 39 mounted as by screws 3l to the face of the complementary door or jamb member, the striker plate hav-v ing a recess 32 into which ball member 25 may seat to provide the restraining or latching features of the device, plate 30 also beingformed with an angularly disposed guide or cam portion 33 which, when the door is moved to closed position, engages lball 25 and eiects the retractive movement of the ball and plunger members.

The formation and association of the striker plate, ball contact element and plunger or retaining member are such that, during this movement, the striker plate is engaged solely by the contact member and is free from engagement with the retaining member. The retaining member is retracted against the action of spring I8 when the contact element 25 seats against abutment 21.

In Figure 8 I show a modified form of mounting plate and retaining shell. In this figure I show a mounting plate 35 having a substantially circular opening 36 but having a pair of abutment securely held to the mounting plate 4I by the pairs of anged end portions.

Figure 9 shows a modified form of plunger assembly wherein a plunger member 45, which retains a ball element 41, is formed with a longitudinal groove or slot 48 in which engages a tab 49 pressed inwardly from a .portion of the wall of tubular member 43. The end portions of groove or slot 48 provide abutments which limit the reciprocatory movement of plunger 46 both inwardly and outwardly. Tab 49 may assume other forms than a pressed or bent portion, an equivalent feature being a set screw 0r other equivalent device providing an abutment for the end portions of groove or slot 48.

Figure 10 shows a modied form of striker plate. The striker plate of Figures 1 and 2 is shown as having a recess or cup, the recess being of such shape and depth as to be engaged by the ball element 25but not engaged by the plunger 2D, the engagement "being such that the curve of the recess in the cross-section shown in Figure 2 is substantially the curve of a ball, which engagement prevents rattling of the latch structure when the door or window is in normally closed position. Opening 52 is shown as being elongated vertically, however, the transverse or horizontal dimension thereof is such as toprovide engagement with the ball element substantially as shown in connection with recess 32, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 11 illustrates somewhat graphically the relative association of the striker plate, contact element and retaining member as the latch is moved into holding position as it functions in a swinging door. As the latch is moved to retaining position ball member 25 engages and moves along cam surface 33 of striker plate 30 and compresses spring 26 and seats against stop abutment 21 of retaining member 20. The dotted line indicates the movement and spacing of the contact element with respect to the surface of the striker plate, the ball contact element 25 moving first inwardly with respect to the retaining member until it engages abutment V21 and thence the retaining member is retracted or moved inwardly and then slightly outwardly as the-ball element enters recess 32.

The various features of my invention are subject to variation as to form and relationship and several such variations are illustrated in Figures 12 to 17. Figure 12 shows a modie'd form of retaining member, the member being indicated as 55 and having a tubular opening or cavity 56 in which a ball contact element 51 is .springseated and retained by a swaged rim portion 58. This form of the retaining member would be used in connection with the tubular housings I4 or 33 together with mounting plates I0 or 35 having abutments such as I6 or 31 to limit the outward movement of the retaining member.V

In Figure 13 I show a further modied form aras-,057

of; retaining member which is substantially similarv tov that of-Figure 12, the retainingrv member being designated 60 and havingra tubular-cavity for receiving a ball contact element 6| which is retainedby a plurality of resilient ngers or prongs 62 which are bent inwardly and having an effective diametrical opening less than the diameter of ball 6l In Figures 14 and 15 I show another modified form of latch. In these figures a rectanguiarly shaped housing 65 is secured to a mounting plate 63 having a rectangular opening el through which extendv flanged end portions- 68 of opposite side Walls 69 of the housing 65. A retaining member 'l0 is spring-seated by a spring 'Il in housing 65 and is of `rectangular shape and is formed with-one or more slots l2 which engage tabs` 13 pressed inwardly fromV sides 69 of the housing 65. A contact element 'Min the form of a rollerl is provided with a pair of pvot pins 'I5 which eX--' tend into elongated slots lt formed in the side walls of retaining member 1&3. A pair of springs 'Il suitably secured within retaining member 'it normally urge the roller 'lll in extended position.

Upon inward movement or retraction by pressure applied against the roller element '14, the roller is first retracted against the pressure of springs 'Il' and upon reaching the limit of the retracted movement, as determined by the pivot pins l5 inslots I6, the'retaining member 'l'El is retracted inwardly against spring 'il in a manner substantially similar to that of Figures 1 to 11.

In Figure 16 I show another modied form of retaining member. In this gure the retaining member is indicated as 80 and is substantially similar to retaining member 1t, however, it is formed to include abutment stop 33 and to include opposite edge portions 8| swaged inwardly to retain a roller element 82, by which construction the pivot pin l5 of roller 'M may be elimi! nated.

In Figure 17 I show a further modified form of the invention. In this ligure I showa tubular housing 85 mounted vertically in a door or lamb 8S and having a mounting -plate 8l suitably secured to a lower portion of the door or jam-b. A retaining member S8 is formed with a tubular opening e9 in which a ball element 9U is held as by retaining rim portion 9 I. The retaining mem ber iid may be provided With a suitable abutment formation 92 to serve as a stop to limit the outward or downward movement of the retaining member 88, which member performsV its latching function by gravity which may be increased by additional weight. The complementary jamb or door member d3 may be provided with a striker plate 94 having a retaining aperture 95 or equivalent recess for engagement with contact element 90. l

For the purpose of disclosing and explaining what may be a desirable commercial embodiment or `embodiments of my invention, it is entirely `feasible to fabricate the device in other ways than those shown and described. Thus, the first plate and shell may be formed as one shape, as, for example, in die casting. Another example might be to eliminate the first plate altogether and, while appearance might be thus sacriced, the shell itself could be formed to function sufficiently as a general retaining member. It is even possible that the shell itself could be eliminated andV the latch mechanism consisting of the ball or other contact element and its immediately related functional parts be installed in a hole drilled in a door, door jamb or Vother structural element.

The essential features or essence of my invention resides in the latch mechanism comprising the four primary parts; namely, the plunger embodying means or retaining the contact element, the contact element itself, and the two springs, one spring having a tension or strengthgreater than the other which results in a two-stage depression or longitudinal movement ofthe latch element when external pressure isapplied thereto as, for example, when closing a door, the first stage of the movement occurring bythe yielding of the spring of weaker tension and the second stage of the movement occurring by the yielding ofthe spring ofthe greater tension. In the case of gravitational action, either or both springs may be eliminated in favor of gravitational force.

Preferably, although not necessarily, the relation of the primary; parts is such that initial pressure on the ball or contact element results in depression of the weaker spring, the inwardmotion of the. contact element being resisted by-said spring.` Further pressural movement of vthe vcontact element results in a force being transmitted from the ball to the plunger, whereupon the plunger begins to depress the second or stronger spring, the inward `motion of the plunger being resisted by the second spring.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within, the scope, of my invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope` of the claims so` as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and systems.

The term striker plate as used in the claims comprehends a striker plate of the general character illustrated and described, or any other suitable type of plate, or a mereA structural surface positioned to function in amanner similar to that of a striker plate.

The term housing as used inthe claims comprehends a housing,` of the generalcharacter illustrated and described, or any other equivalent form, including but not limited to, a socketV of suitable size and form provided in the material of the structural body itself in which the remaining specifiedA elements of the latch are located.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A latch comprising a projectable retaining member adapted when installed in a structural body to advanceV beyond the surface thereof, said retaining member being formed with a shouldered portion, a floating contact element within said retaining member, said retaining member embodying a'stop to limit the inwardl travel of said floating contact element within said retaining member andl embodying an opening through which' the contact element may project and embodying limit means to fix the maximum projecn tion of Said contact element, and` a housing for said retaining member embodying means to limit the advance of the retainingV member, said last means including a plate portion of said housing having an opening for the retaining member and having an abutment` portion extending intosaid openingengageable with the shouldered.V portion of the retaining member.

2. A latch comprising a projectable retaining member adapted when installed in a structural body to advance beyond the surface thereof, a floating contact element. within said retaining member, said retaining member embodying a stop to limit the inward travel of said floating contact element within said retaining member and embodying an opening through which the contact element may project and embodying limit means to fix the maximum projection of said contact element and a housing for said retaining member embodying means to limit the advance of the retaining member, said Contact element being spring-loaded.

3. A latch comprising a projectable retaining member adapted when installed yin a structural body to advance beyond the surface thereof, a iioating contact element within said retaining member, said retaining member embodying a stop to limit the inward travel of said floating contact element within said retaining member and embodying an opening through which the contact :element Amay project and embodying limit means to fix the maximum projection of said contact element and a housing for said retaining member embodying means t limit the advance of the retaining member, said retaining member Aand contact element each being springloaded.

4. A latch comprising a projectable retaining member adapted when installed in a structural body to vadvance beyond the surface thereof, a iioating contact element within said retaining member, said retaining member embodying a stop to limit the inward travel oi said floating contact element within said retaining member and embodying an opening through which the contact element may project and embodying limit means to fix the maximum projection of said contact element and a housing for said retaining member embodying means to limit the advance of the retaining member, said retaining member and contact element eac-h being spring-loaded, one of the loading springs being weaker than the other.

5. A latch adapted to be installed in a structural body for cooperation with a striker plate mounted on an adjacent structural body, said latch comprising a slidable retaining member, a contact element longitudinally shiftably mounted in said retaining member, said retaining member being provided with stop means and limit means oppositely spaced'relative to the contact element xing the opposite extremes of shifting movement of the contact element in the retaining member, said contact element extending beyond the end of said retaining member in all positions of said contact element, housing means slidably confining said retaining member and having an open end through which said retaining member can project, whereby when said latch is mounted in a structural body engagement of the contact element with a striker plate will initially cause the contact element to shift longitudinally in the retaining member, and after the limit of such shifting is reached as fixed by said stop means any further movement resulting from engagement of the Contact element with the striker plate will cause the retaining member to slide within the housing without permitting the retaining member to engage the striker plate. l

6. A latch adapted to be installed in a structural body for cooperation with a striker plate mounted on an adjacent struc-tural body, said latch comprising a slidable retaining member, a contact element longitudinally shiftably mounted in said retaining member, said retaining member being provided with stop means and limit means oppositely spaced relative to the contactV element liixing the opposite extremes of shifting movement of the contact element in the retaining member, said contact element extending beyond the end of said retaining member in all positions of said contact element, housing means slidably confining said retaining member and having an open end through whchsaid retaining member can project, said Contact element being spring loaded, whereby when said latch is mounted in a structural body engagement of the contact element with a striker plate will initially cause the contact element to shift longitudinally in the retaining member, and after the limit of such shifting is reached as fixed by said stop means any further movement resulting from engagement of the contact element with the striker plate will'cause the retaining member to slide within the housing without permitting the re,- taining member to engage the striker plate.

'7. A latch adapted to be installed in a structural body for cooperation with a striker plate mounted on an adjacent structural body, said latch comprising a slidable retaining member, a contact element longitudinally shiftably mounted in said retaining member, said retaining member being provided with stop means and limit means oppositely spaced relative to the contact element fixing the opposite extremes of shifting movement of the contact element in the retaining member, said contact element extending beyond the end of said retaining member in all positions of said contact element, housing means slidably confining said retaining member and having an open end through which said retaining member can project, said retaining member being spring loaded, whereby when said latch is mounted in a structural body engagement of the contact element with a striker plate will initially cause the Contact element to shift longitudinally in the retaining member, and after the limit of such shifting is reached as xed by said stop means any further movement resulting from engagement of the contact element with the striker plate will cause the retaining member to slide within the housing without permitting the retaining member to engage the striker plate.

8. A latch adapted to be installed in a structural body for cooperation with a striker plate mounted on an adjacent structural body, said latch comprising a slidable retaining member, a contact element longitudinally shiftably mounted in said retaining member, said retaining member being provided with stop means and limit means oppositely spaced relative to the contact element fixing the opposite extremes of shifting movement of the contact element in the retaining member, said contact element extending beyond the. end of said retaining member in all positions of said contact element, housing means slidably confining said retaining member and having an open end through which said retaining member can project, a spring in said retaining member opposing inward shifting of the contact element, and a spring in rsaid housing means opposing inward sliding movement of the retaining member, whereby when saidv latch is mounted in a structural body engagement of the contact element with a striker plate will initially cause the contact element to shift longitudinally in the retaining member, and after the limit of such shifting is reached as fixed by said stop means any further movement resulting from engagement of the contact element with the striker plate will cause the retaining member to slide within the housing without permitting the retaining member to engage the striker plate.

9. A latch comprising a projectable retaining member adapted when installed in a structural body to advance beyond the surface thereof and to be retracted within the surface thereof, said retaining member providing a mounting for a floating contact element and having an open end through which such contact element may project, a oating contact element mounted in said retaining member and projecting through said open end, said retaining .member embodying a stop to limit the inward travel of said contact element, and a limit means to fix the maximum projection of said contact element, said stop and said limit means being spaced in relation to the contact element so that substantial movement of the contact element longitudinally of the retaining member is permitted, the stop being positioned in relation to the open end of the retaining member so that at the limit of the inward movement of the contact element relative to the retaining member the contact element still projects beyond the said`end of the retaining member and prevents engagement of said end of the retaining member with an external object located outside of the structural body in proximity thereto such as a striker plate, a housing slidably conning said retaining member, and means cooperating lbetween said housing and said retaining member limiting the advance of said retaining member outwardly from said housing.

10. A latch comprising a projectable retaining member adapted when installed in a structural body to advance beyond the surface thereof and to be retracted within the surface thereof, said retaining member providing a mounting for a floating contact element and having an open end through which such contact element may project, a oating contact element mounted in said retaining member and projecting through said open end, said retaining member embodying a stop to limit the inward travel of said contact ele- Number Name Date 426,905 Bleha Apr. 29, 1890 551,110 Colburn Dec. 10, 1895 635,339 Myrick Oct. 24, 1899 '793,519 Hacker et al June 27, 1905 1,038,111 Foss Sept. 10, 1912 1,339,178 Dysart May 4, 1920 1,589,202 Meis June 15, 1926 2,108,965 Gray Feb. 22, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 6,570 Great Britain Mar. 19, 1907 161,833 Great Britain Apr. 15, 1920 202,410 Great Britain May 19, 1922V ment, and a limit means to x the maximum projection of said contact element, said stop and said limit means being spaced in relation to the contact element so that substantial movement of the contact element longitudinally of the retaining member is permitted, the stop being positioned in relation to the open end of the retaining member so that at the limit of the inward movement of the contact element relative to the retaining member the contact element still projects beyond the said end of the retaining member and prevents engagement of said end of the retaining member with an external object located outside of the structural body in proximity thereto such as a striker plate, a housing slidably confining said retaining member, and means cooperating between said housing and said retaining member limiting the advance of said vretaining member outwardly from said housing, said last named means comprising a flange on said housing and` a shoulder on said retaining member.

FRED il. RUSSELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

